Electric switch with universal pivot actuator



Dec. 14, 1965 G. w. STROTHER, JR 3,223,792

ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH UNIVERSAL PIVOT ACTUATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 12, 1963 1965 G. w. STROTHER, JR 3,

ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH UNIVERSAL PIVOT ACTUATOR Filed D80. 12, 1965 4Sheets-Sheet 5 5%.. /M IT Dec. 14, 1965 G. w. STROTHER. JR 3,223,792

ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH UNIVERSAL PIVOT ACTUATOR Filed Dec. 12, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 4 L F/6 a //l/VA/fa 650/966 M ff/P076499, 26?

4a., A 770EA/67 United States Patent Ofi 3,223,792 Patented Dec. 14,1965 ice 3,223,792 ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH UNIVERSAL PIVOT ACTUATOR GeorgeW. Strother, Jr., Arlington, Va., assignor to Navionics, Inc., acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 330,107 16 Claims.(Cl. 200-6) This invention relates to a joy stick type of switch bywhich to control a plurality of circuits separately or in combinationfrom a single switch lever.

One feature of the invention is a simply constructed switch mechanism ofreadily formed and assembled parts to produce the joy stick type ofcontrol. Another feature is an electrical switch that is inexpensive tomanufacture and capable of selectively controlling at one time one ormore of a prearranged combination of circuits.

One feature of the invention is a switch assembly for obtaining motionin either of two directions in one or both of a pair of angularlyrelated planes. More specifically another feature is a switch mechanismfor controlling the rotation of a pair of motors selectively in eitherdirection, one at a time or in combination.

One feature is a switch assembly requiring a small number of parts andbeing capable of asembly on its supporting base without the necessity ofadded assembly jigs since the base forms its own jig.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specificationand claims, and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the switch assembly.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembly.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the supporting base removed from the casing,with the first pair of contacts installed.

FIGS. 4 to 10 inclusive are successive steps in the assembly.

FIG. 11 is a be assembled.

FIG. 12 is an elevation of the contacts of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13 and 14 correspond to FIGS. 11 and 12 and show the next pair ofcontacts.

FIG. 15 is an elevation of one set of the movable contacts.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view along line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a view similar set of movable contacts.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 1818 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 19 is a wiring diagram.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the switch assembly is enclosed withina cup-shaped container 2 which has an opening 4 in the base to receivethe electrical cable from the switch. An insulating grommet 6 mayprotect the cable at the opening 4 and prevent leakage into thecontainer. A cap 8 is secured as by rivets 9 to the flanged rim of thecup to enclose the switch assembly. The cover is a two-piece cover, thetop piece having a central opening 12 to receive the control lever orjoy stick 14 and a conical portion 16 surrounding the opening to supportthe spherical pivot 18 on the lever, between its ends. This sphericalpivot is held in position by an inner plate 20 having a central opening21 for the joy plan view of the first pair of contacts to to FIG.showing the other tion on the underside of the cap.

stick and detents 22 to retain a helical spring 24 in posi- The springis positioned to engage the flat top surface 26 of a hemisphericalactuator 28 on the inner end of the control lever or joy stick 14. Thespring tends to center the lever and hold it in an upright position atright angles to the cover plate as shown. If desired, the cover platemay have notations such as the down, up, right, and left indicia shownin FIG. 2, where the joy stick controls both up and down movement andmovement to right and left in a horizontal plane, as will be describedin detail.

The switch is assembled in a plastic base 30 which may be molded toshape from suitable insulating plastic many of which are well known. Thebase has a cylindrical portion 32 at the bottom through which there arefour vertical holes 34 for the reception of terminals on the fixedcontact assemblies, and other holes 35 for the movable contact assemblyterminals. The base also has four upright supports 36 that in plan aresegments of a circle and form backing supports for the contacts as willbe described. The base is of such a dimension as to fit securely withinthe container with the uprights 36 engaging the side walls. Thecylindrical portion 32 also has a top recess 38 therein to receive thebases of the fixed contacts, this recess being substantially square withele vated corner portions 40 for a purpose to appear later.

The switch assembly is completed in the plastic base, the latterconstituting a jig in which the contact elements are retained until theycan all be secured together. The assembly is shown step-by-step in FIGS.3 to 10, inclusive. The first contact assembly 42 is a fixed contactassembly and as shown in detail in FIGS. 11 and 12 is substantiallyU-shaped in cross section with a downward offset 44 centrally of thebase and with inwardly extending contact olfsets 46 near the top ends ofthe U. Attached to the base of the U is a contact terminal 48 extendingdownwardly. This contact assembly is placed in the plastic base 30 inthe position shown, the offset 44 resting on the bottom of the toprecess 38 and with the corners of the base of the U fitting in smallnotches 50 formed in the proper position in the sides of the recess 38,and the terminal 48 projecting downwardly through one of the openings34. An insulating washer 52 is placed centrally over the olfset 44 tocomplete the first assembly step.

The second assembly step, FIG. 4, involves placing a second contactassembly, the same in shape as the first, at right angles thereto, asshown in FIG. 4. This assembly has the base of the U located in in othersmall notches 50 and its contact terminal extends through the verticalopening 34 located below this contact assembly. Another insulatingwasher is placed centrally on the base of this contact assembly. Theseinsulating Washers are preferably selected to be equal in outer diameterto the offset in the assembly so as to be retained thereby centrally ofthe assembly.

The next contact assemblies 54 to be placed on the plastic base areshaped as in FIGS. 13 and 14. These assemblies are similar to those ofFIGS. 11 and 12 except that the contact offsets 56, located in the legs58 of the U are twisted in a direction opposite to the offsets of thefirst contact assembly in order that the contact offsets in the pairs ofcontacts, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, will be parallel to each other eventhough the base of the U extends at an acute angle thereto. Thesecontact assemblies 54 have the offsets 66 in the base of the U extendingupwardly so that the contact offsets of the several assemblies will notbe substantially out of alignment with one another. Each of theseassemblies has a contact terminal 62 attached to the base.

As shown in FIG. 5. the contact assembly in the third assembly step isone of the contact assemblies of FIGS. 13 and 14 and is placed asindicated with the terminal 62 extending through the appropriate opening34 and with the ends of the base of the U fitting in opposite notches50. This third contact assembly cooperates with the first contactassembly to make up opposite pairs of fixed contacts at opposite sidesof the plastic base. Another insulating washer 52 is placed on theoffset 60 of this contact assembly.

The fourth assembly step, FIG. 6, involves placing another contactassembly 54 at right angles to the previously placed contact assembly 54directly beneath it. This second contact assembly 54 cooperates with thesecond contact assembly 42 of FIG. 4 to make up the opposite pairs ofcontacts at top and bottom of the ass'emblage as viewed in FIG. 6. Thisstep completes the assemblage of the fixed contacts after a topinsulating Washer 52 is placed as shown.

The fifth assembly step, that shown in FIG. 7, is the insertion of thefirst movable contact assembly 64,shown in FIGS. and 16. This assemblyis made up of two U- shaped contact elements 66, the legs of which haveoutwardly projecting contact offsets 68 and the base of each of whichelement is offset midway between the ends of the base to provide lowerand upper steps 70 and 72. The assembly of FIG. 15 is made by attachingtwo of the elements 66 together with the upper steps 72 in contact andwith the elements at right angles to each other as shown. The elementsare connected together and to a control terminal 74 as by a rivet 76.This assemblage is positioned in the plastic base as shown in FIG. 7,the contact terminal extending through one of the holes 35 and servingto hold the assemblage in the position shown. The corner portion 40serves to support this contact assembly 64 above the previouslypositioned fixed contact assemblies, being also spaced by the insulatingwasher 50.

The sixth assembly step shown in FIG. 8, uses the movable contactassembly 76 of FIG. 17 which differs from that of FIG. 15 in that theU-shaped contact elements 66 are positioned with the lower steps 72 incontact and with the elements 66 at right angles to one another. Thecontact terminal 74 is attached to the assemblage by the rivet 7 8 thatholds the elements 66 together. This assemblage is placed as shown inFIG. 8 with the contact terminal projecting downwardly through the otherhole 35 in the opposite corner portion 40 which serves to support thisassemblage in position above and out of contact with the previouslypositioned movable contact assembly of FIG. 7.

The contact assemblies are all then held in position by a square plate80, FIG. 9, overlying the bases of the U-shaped elements 66 and held tothe plastic base by a bolt 82 extending downwardly through the plate 80,the insulating washers and the bases of the fixed contact assemblies,the latter having central openings 84 in the bases of the U, as shown inFIG. 11 and openings 86, FIG. 13, as Will be apparent. A nut 88 engagesthe underside of the base to retain the bolt in position.

The pairs of movable contacts are interconnected by insulating contactconnectors 90, FIGS. 10 and 18, which extend between the movablecontacts of each pair. Each connector is in the form of a bar of plasticmaterial having projections 92 thereon to fit in openings 94, FIGS. 15and 17, in the contact elements. The material is such that theseprojections may readily be headed over as shown in FIG. 18 by softeningthe projecting end with heat as from a soldering iron. The bar may havea central projection 96, FIG. 10, to be positioned between the contactelements to which the connector is secured, as indicated in FIG. 10.

When the assemblage is completed, the individual wires of the cable 5are secured to the appropriate contact terminals as will be apparent andthe plastic base with the assemblage bolted thereto is slid into thecontainer until the top ends of the upright supports 36 are level withthe top of the container. The top is then placed in position with thehemispherical actuator 28 located within the group of contact connectorsand in a position to engage these connectors for selectively moving theconnectors singly or in unison to close the several contacts.

With the arrangement shown, the wiring diagram is relatively simple. Thecontacts of FIG. 19 are in much the same arrangement as in FIGS. 3 to10, inclusive. The dotted lines represent the interconnection ofdiagonally opposite contacts since the opposite contacts on eachU-shaped element are obviously interconnected. For convenience, thepairs of contacts of FIG. 19 Will be referred to as the top contacts,the bottom contacts and the left and right contacts. The wiring diagramis merely exemplary as other devices than motors could be used. Thearrangement shown provides for up or down movement of a device, notshown by rotation of the motor as represented by the arrow, thedirection of motor rotation determining whether the device is moved upor down. The movement to left or right is controlled by a motor 102 andits direction of rotation determines the direction of movement. With thepower input 104 connected respectively to the two movable contactassemblages 64 and 76, as shown, it will be apparent that movement ofthe hemispherical actuator 28 (represented by the circle) to the right,FIG. 19, will move the movable contacts at the right to engage the fixedcontacts at the right and energize motor 102. Movement of the sameactuator 28 to the left will engage the movable contacts at the leftwith the fixed contacts at the left and reverse the direction ofrotation of the motor 102. This will occur since the fixed top contactat the left and the bottom fixed contact at the right are interconnectedand the top fixed contact at the right and the bottom fixed contact atthe left are also interconnected, whereas the two top movable contactsof the left and right pairs are interconnected, as will be apparent fromFIG. 8, and the two bottom movable contacts of these pairs are alsointerconnected.

Similarly, if the actuator 28 is moved upwardly, as seen in FIG. 19,motor 100 will be energized to provide vertical movement to the deviceactuated thereby. Downward movement of the actuator 28 to engage thecontacts at the bottom of this figure will reverse the direction of themotor and reverse the vertical direction of motion by reason of theinterconnections between the fixed contacts as above described. Suitableconnections for the motor terminals will assure proper movement of thedevice to be consistent with the markings on the cover, it beingunderstood that movement of the joy stick 14 causes pivotal movementabout its pivot 18 and thus causes movement of the actuator 28 in theopposite direction, such that as the joy stick moves to the right theactuator will move to the left and similarly in other directions ofmovement of the joy stick.

It will be apparent that the arrangement shown permits energizing ofboth motors at once. If the actuator is moved diagonally, FIG. 19, itwill provide contact with both one set of lateral contacts as well asone set of bottom or top contacts. Thus, movement of the actuatordiagonally upward and to the right, FIG. 19, will close the top twopairs of contacts as well as two pairs of contacts at the right. It willbe apparent that both movable contacts at the top are caused to move inunison into engagement with the opposing fixed contacts by the connector90, FIG. 10, that connects the movable contacts together and this willoccur even when the actuator moves diagonally. Similarly, the twomovable contacts at the right are caused to move in unison by theconnector 90 for these two contact even when the actuator movesdiagonally. This is equally true of the pairs of movable contacts at thebottom, FIGS. and 19, and at the left. The connector 90 has been omittedfrom FIG. 19 to avoid confusion of the wiring diagram. In this way bothmotors can be in operation with either direction of rotation selected bythe appropriate diagonal direction of motion of the joy stick.

The fixed contacts are arranged in pairs in a ring about a central axisand the movable contacts are arranged in pairs in a smaller ring aboutthe same axis, as will be apparent. The actuator is centrally positionedwithin the ring of movable contacts and causes operating contact betweenany pair of fixed contacts and the cooperating pair of movable contacts,or, if the actuator is moved diagonally, two pairs of movable contactsare moved into engagement with the cooperating two pairs of fixedcontacts.

The above described assemblage permits very simple manufacture andassembly. Obviously all the movable contact elements 66 are duplicatesand require only one set of dies. All the contact terminals are alikeand can be made from one set of dies. The fixed contact elements 42 and54 are similar, the flat plan being identical, and one being bent in thereverse of the other when formed 'so that reversal of the dies willeasily permit the formation of all these elements. The plastic base iseasily molded to the desired shape with the openings 34 and 35 and therecess 38 formed therein during the molding process thus eliminating anymachining steps. Further, the base serves as a jig for holding the partstogether during assembly so that no additional assembly devices arenecessary.

The switch assembly may be used, for example, in connection with thesearch light shown in the copending United States application Serial No.323,940, filed November 15, 1963, in which the movement of the searchlight beam to right or left in a horizontal plane would be controlled bymovement of the joy stick to right or left and the change in the angleof the beam with respect to the horizontal could be changed by movementof the joy stick in the down or up direction. Movement of the joy stickdiagonally between these directions would obtain both a movement in ahorizontal plane and a change in the vertical angle of the beam. Otheruses for this type of switch will be apparent.

It is to be understood that the nvention is not limited to the specificembodiment herein illustrated and described, but may be used in otherways without departure from its spirit as defined by the followingclaims.

I claim:'

1. A multiple switch including a container having a cover, a base withinthe container, four pairs of fixed contact fingers extending upwardlyfrom the base with the free ends arranged in a ring about the axis ofthe base, said pairs being spaced substantially 90 apart around saidaxis, another four pairs of contact fingers extending upwardly from thebase and arranged within the ring formed by the first fingers, and anactuating lever extending through and pivoted in said cap and having onits inner end an actuator for moving said second pairs of contactsselectively into contact with the first pairs of fingers, diagonallyopposite fingers of said first contact fingers being electricallyinterconnected.

2. A multiple switch including a container having a cover, a base withinthe container, four pairs of fixed contact fingers extending upwardlyfrom the base with the free ends arranged in a ring about the axis ofthe base, said pairs being spaced substantially 90 apart around saidaxis, another four pairs of contact fingers extending upwardly from thebase and arranged within the ring formed by the first fingers, and anactuating lever extending through and pivoted in said cap and having onits inner end an actuator for moving said second pairs of contactsselectively into contact with the first pairs of fingers, the fingers ofeach pair of movable contact fingers being interconnected by aninsulating contact bar for engagement by the actuator.

3. A multiple switch including a container having a cover, a base withinthe container, four pairs of fixed con tact fingers extending upwardlyfrom the base with the free ends arranged in a ring about the axis ofthe base, said pairs being spaced substantially apart around said axis,another four pairs of contact fingers extending upwardly from the baseand arranged within the ring formed by the first fingers, and anactuating lever extending through and pivoted in said cap and having onits inner end an actuator for moving said second pairs of contactsselectively into contact with the first pairs of fingers, the actuatorbeing hemispherical in shape.

4. A multiple switch including a base, a plurality of fixed contactassemblies successively mounted on said base, each assembly beingU-shaped with a base portion and upwardly extending contact fingers,each assembly being angularly ofi set at the base with respect to thepreceding assembly, said base having notches therein to locate the endsof the base portions of each assembly in position, and a bolt throughthe base and the bases of the assemblies holding the several assemblieson the base.

5. A multiple switch including a base, a plurality of fixed contactassemblies successively mounted on said base, each assembly beingU-shaped with a base portion and upwardly extending contact fingers,each assembly being angularly ofiset at the base with respect to thepreceding assembly, said base having notches therein to locate the endsof the base portions of each assembly in position, and circumferentiallyspaced fingers extending upwardly from said base in parallel relation tothe contact fingers.

6. A multiple switch including an insulating base, a plurality of fixedcontact assemblies mounted on the base, each assembly being U-shapedwith a base portion and upwardly extending fingers, each assembly beingangularly ofiset at the base with respect to each of the otherassemblies, and with the assemblies arranged in pairs to provide aplurality of pairs of contacts circumferentially spaced about the base,and a plurality of movable contact assemblies also mounted on the baseand insulated from one another to provide contact fingers cooperatingwith the fixed contact assembly fingers.

7. A switch as in claim 6 in which each movable contact assemblyincludes a pair of U-shaped elements with the bases of the elementssecured together.

8. A switch as in claim 7 in which the base of each of U-shaped elementshas offsets formed therein to define lower and upper steps, and similarsteps of the bases are secured together.

9. A switch as in claim 8 in which a contact terminal is also secured tothe pair of U-shaped elements and extends downwardly through the base.

10. A switch as in claim 8 in which one movable contact assembly isformed by securing the pair of U-shaped elements together on their lowersteps and the other assembly is formed by securing the pair of U-shapedelements together on their upper steps.

11. A switch as in claim 10 in which each movable contact assembly has acontact terminal secured to the assembly where the U-shaped elementsintersect, said terminals extending through the base.

12. A multiple electric switch including a base member having aplurality of pairs of fixed contacts arranged around the periphery ofthe base in circumferentially spaced relation, a plurality of pairs ofmovable contacts arranged inwardly of the fixed contacts and inalignment therewith, and an actuator positioned inwardly of the movablecontacts for moving the pairs of movable contacts selectively outwardlyto engage the fixed contacts, diagonally opposite fixed contacts beingintegrally connected together.

13. A switch as in claim 12 in which the base is cylindrical and ispositioned within a cylindrical container.

14. A switch as in claim 13 in which the container has a cover, and theactuator is swivelled in the cover.

15. A switch as in claim 13 in which the contacts are 5 lever isswivelled in the cover and carries the actuator on its inner end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,521,489 9/ 1950Sorensen. 2,826,657 3/1958 Mason 200-6 X 3,121,147 2/1964 Dal Bianco etal. 200-168 X 10 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner.

1. A MULTIPLE SWITCH INCLUDING A CONTAINER HAVING A COVER, A BASE WITHINTHE CONTAINER, FOUR PAIRS OF FIXED CONTACT FINGERS EXTENDING UPWARDLYFROM THE BASE WITH THE FREE ENDS ARRANGED IN A RING ABOUT THE AXIS OFTHE BASE, SAID PAIRS BEING SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY 90* APART AROUND SAIDAXIS, ANOTHER FOUR PAIRS OF CONTACT FINGERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THEBASE AND ARRANGED WITHIN THE RING FORMED BY THE FIRST FINGERS, AND ANACTUATING LEVER EXTEND-